Staged readings of five plays from and about the Middle East
This year's plays:
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The Donkey Market by Tawfiq al Hakim directed by Hal Gelb In this biting comedy by the acclaimed founder of modern Egyptian theatre, a man impersonates a donkey in order to secure a job. Tewfiq al Hakim’s signature political satire and social commentary will resonate deeply with today’s American audiences. |
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Orhan by Elizabeth Benedict directed by Arlene Hood A man of Turkish descent finds himself in prison and to make his way out he must decide if his allegiance lies with his heritage or his government. Orhan is a piercing exploration of racial identity in our modern society. |
| The Weddings at Mukaradeeb by Martin Russell directed by Torange Yeghiazarian In 2004, there were reports that an Iraqi wedding party was massacred by the American army. Army officials assert they raided a meeting of terrorists and refuse to take responsibility for the rumored civilian deaths. This hard-hitting docudrama shows us the events and aftermath of that fatal day. |
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Pistachio Stories by Laura Shamas directed by Jayne Wenger This funny and touching play boils down the issues of government surveillance, censorship and freedom of speech to one simple question: What would you do if you received an unexpected bag of red pistachios from Syria? |
| The Error by Adania Shibli directed by Evren Odcikin Four friends living in peaceful harmony find a radio that plays their favorite song. But everything is up for grabs once the radio incites them to draw their borders and fight to protect their land. This absurdist comedy critiques the politics of peace in the Middle East. |
Call 415.626.4061
When and where
Thu, Nov 2 - Sat, Nov 4, 2006
@ The Thick House
1695 18th Street, SF
Admission
$10-$20 suggested donation
Special Events
Thu, Nov 2: Post-play conversation with playwrights and directors
Fri, Nov 3: Post-performance reception
FREE NIGHT OF THEATRE
Thu, Nov 2 performance is a part of Theatre Bay Area's Free Night of Theatre Program. For more information, please visit the TBA website.
PLAYWRIGHT BIOS
ELIZABETH BENEDICT's play Jesus in Las Vegas was recently included in the Z Magic Mondays series of new work. She was included in the 2005 Bay Area Playwrights Foundation Festival and was a finalist in the Festival's BASH event in 2004. Her play, Surfing Toasters was performed at the SF Fringe Festival in 2002. She is also an actress.
LAURA SHAMAS' plays have been developed by many theaters, including Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Old Globe, The Geva Theater, The Utah Shakespearean Festival, and produced by Philadelphia Theater Company, Denver Center Theater Company, Walnut Street Theater, West Coast Ensemble and The Glines/New York, among others. She has nine published plays. Shamas and playwright Jon Klein have just been awarded a 2006-2007 Aurand Harris Fellowship from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America to write a new holiday play together.
ADANIA SHIBLI, born in Palestine in 1974, made her main studies in the field of journalism and communication. She has been publishing regularly in literary magazines in the Arab world and in Europe. Her novels have been published in Arabic by Al-Adab Publishing House (Beirut) and in French by Actes-Sud. Shibli twice has been given the Young Writer’s Award-Palestine by the Al-Qattan Foundation. The Error is her first play.